After extensive negotiations, former PRIDE Middleweight and Welterweight Champion Dan “Hendo” Henderson has officially signed with Strikeforce and may debut for the promotion as early as next April on CBS. The signing comes after lengthy talks with both the UFC and Strikeforce.
Henderson has previously expressed frustration with the UFC’s decision to pass him over for a UFC Middleweight title shot in favour of recent returnee Vitor “The Phenom” Belfort, and has stated that he is pleased with his four-fight Strikeforce deal and the challenges that lie ahead.
Henderson (25-7-0) returned to the UFC at UFC 75 in September of 2007 after well over nine years away from the promotion, during which he had captured both the PRIDE Middleweight (205-Pound) and Welterweight (183-Pound) Championships.
After dropping back-to-back fights to Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Anderson “The Spider” Silva, Henderson rebounded with a pair of decision wins over submission ace Rousimar “Toquinho” Palhares and former champion Rich “Ace” Franklin.
However, it was his memorable bout with Michael “The Count” Bisping that left a lasting impression, as Henderson knocked the British star out cold with a vicious right hook at 3:20 of the second round.
Following the victory over Bisping, Henderson had felt that he should be next in line for another shot at Anderson Silva’s crown, but the UFC opted to award the title shot to Belfort, whom Henderson had previously defeated at PRIDE 32 in late 2006.
With his UFC deal expired, Henderson tested free agent waters and began preliminary talks with Strikeforce. He continued to keep an open dialogue with the UFC, but ultimately sided with the rapidly-expanding California-based promotion.
With a résumé that reads as a who’s who of the sport, Henderson has beaten many of the biggest names in mixed martial arts.
His crowning achievements were victories over former UFC Interim and PRIDE Heavyweight Champion Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira, 2006 PRIDE Welterweight Grand Prix Champion Kazuo Misaki and former long-time PRIDE Middleweight Champion Wanderlei “The Axe Murderer” Silva.
Now setting his sights on the likes of Strikeforce champions Jake Shields, Gegard “The Dreamcatcher” Mousasi and #1-ranked heavyweight phenom “The Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko, Henderson has many tough challengers left before him.
A Strikeforce Middleweight Championship bout between Henderson and Shields could happen as early as April at a tentatively scheduled card on CBS primetime television.
The 39-year-old Henderson will now enter a new and potentially final chapter in his storied career as he joins the Strikeforce ranks and looks to capture title gold one more time.